Automatic telegraph transmitter



Feb. 14, 1950 1.. E. GARDINER 2,497,722

AUTOMATIC TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER Filed Sept. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Laura/ms f. Gard/77er- ATTOR/Vf) Patented Feb. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,497,722 AUTOMATIC TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER Application September 5, 1945, Serial No. 614,487

10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to automatic telegraph transmitters, and more particularly to devices for automatically controllin electrical circuits for the transmission of messages. The device is also particularly useful in the teaching of code to beginners, as it enables them to learn quickly to recognize the code signals used in telegraph work.

The invention relates to that type of instrument in which a perforated tape is fed through the same, and in which, as the perforations in the tape pass a metallic brush, contacts are made and broken, and in this manner the sending of a telegraph message is effected or simulated.

More specifically considered the present inven- In the device shown in m aforesaid Letters Patent No. 2,285,268, the tape spools, and part of the driving mechanism for the same, were on the outside of the cabinet or housing, but in the present device practically everything is enclosed, with the exception of a small portion of the perforated tape, including the part which is being used in the making and breaking of the circuit, this portion being fed over a bulge on the front of the cabinet where it is exposed to the view of the operator.

It has been found in practice that one of the principal difliculties in connection with the use of instruments of this character arises out of the circumstance that they get into the hands of that type of persons who like to tinker with any ma- 5 chine which they are using, and as certain of the internal parts are more or less delicate, short circuits causing considerable damage to the instrument are likely to occur.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an instrument of the character aforesaid, which is so constructed and arranged that the parts will be efiectivel protected against injury including that caused by unskillful tinkering the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View, showing more particularly the external appearance of apparatus embodying the main features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the lower portion of the device with the lid removed, and with certain other portions removed, and with parts shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, but with the parts in positions assumed when the lid of the cabinet is raised;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the upper portion of the cabinet, with the lidin the closed position and with certain of the parts in their operative positions, but with certain of the other parts omitted; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the cabinet, particularly illustrating a guard or cover for a portion of the apparatus of the present invention.

It should, of course, be understood that the de scription and drawings are illustrative merely, and that various changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, in the particular embodiment of the invention therein shown, lllis a box or cabinet, in the interior of which the operating mechanism of the instrument is contained. To the main or body portion of the cabinet H], a lid II is mounted by means of a hinge l2. The body portion of the cabinet I0 is preferably provided with a horizontal partition l3 below which the operating mechanism, not shown, of the instrument is disposed, and above which spools l4 and I5 are mounted on vertical spindles l6 and I1 respectively.

The driving wheel iii of the operating mechanism, is arranged on the upper end of a vertical shaft 19, which is driven by a suitable motor, not shown, forming part of the operating mechanism which is disposed below the horizontal partition l3. The drive wheel 18 engages the periphery of an idler wheel 20 which is mounted on a vertical spindle 2| supported by the horizontal partition [3 of the cabinet. The idler wheel 20 is preferably provided with a resilient rim 22 made of rubber or the like.

The spindle I 6 upon which the spool I4 is mounted is fixedly positioned in the horizontal partion l3, whereas the spindle ll upon which the spool I5 ismounted is carried by one end of a swinging arm 23 suitably tensioned by means of a spring, not shown, to cause the tape 24, which is wound on the spool l5, to bear at its peripheral portion against the resilient rim 22 of the idler wheel 20. The foregoing arrangement is provided so that the tape 24 will be moved at uniform speed during the operation of the instrument, notwithstanding the increase .in diameter of the coil of tape on the spool as the instrument continues to operate.

The body portion of the housing or cabinet it is provided with a lug 25, the outer surface of which is curved to provide asllpport, over which the tape 24 is fed, at a location where the same is visible to the operator.

The lid portion of the cabinet is provided with a lug or projection 26, complemental to the 111g 25 of the body portion of the cabinet ID, and this lug 26 is also provided with a downwardly extending lip 21 which serves to shield a metallic contact-member 28. The contact member 28 is mounted on the under face of the lug 26 of the lid portion H of the cabinet, and is adapted to be positioned in front of a portion of the tape 24 .;as the same is .fed over the curved surfaceof the lug 25 of the body portion of the cabinet Hi.

The lug 25, and the adjacent portion of the body of the cabinet I0, is provided with a recess 29 in which a metallic brush 30 is mounted. The brush 3!! is secured in any suitable manner in the recess 29, as for instance by means of the screw 31. The free end of the brush member 30 is adapted, when the tape is fed over the curved surface of the lug 25, to extend through the per- ,iforations in the tape, and thereby to makecontact with the metallic member 28 to close thecircuit.

In the operative condition of the apparatus the brush member is impelled forwardly, to cause the free end thereof to make the contacts, asbefore'stated, by means ofna spring 32 which is also mounted in the recess 29, and .issecured in place by means of screws .33. The free end of the spring 32, where the same engages the :brush 30, is provided with an "insulating sleeve 34 which serves to -prevent-thecurrent from passing ,directlyirom the spring 32110 the brush 3.0,.

When the lid vl I is raised the parts will be in the positionsshown'iniEig. 3 of therdrawings, and the free end of the brush 30 will be retracted so that no contact can bemade at this point, but in the normal operating condition a :pin 35, which is mounted in the lug portion 26 of the lid will .engage the spring 32 and impel the same forward- :ly, to cause the free end of-thebrush '30 to make the contacts through the perforations of the tape 24, as the same is fed over the curved surface of the 1ug25. It should be noted that the pin 35 is tapered and at all times contacts with the metallic member 28 so that, when the circuit is established at the end of the brush 30, the current will-pass through the metallic member 28 and thence through the pin 35to the spring 32. The brush member 30 and the spring member 32 are respectively connected, by Wires '50 and 5!, to the main signaling circuit of the instrument to control the same. In the actual construction these wires are preferably concealed from view. The cabinet lusmay, if desired,'.be provided on its front face with binding posts.3 6 and 3.1 for connection of the instrument .to the sounder, and also, if desired, the-operating spindles 38 and 39 of the mainswitches of the instrument may-extend from theiront of the cabinet, thespindle38 :beingprovided .for the control of. :the signaling within the recess 29 are protected by means of a cover plate 40, the horizontally disposed portion 4| *ofwhich extends over the top of said recess 29,

" extends downwardly on the inside.

v.zontally extending portion 4| of the said cover plate Mlisprovided with an aperture 43 through and has a vertically depending portion 42 which The horiis closed.

.It will be seen that by the foregoing arrangement there is provided a simple and efiicient device which will .serve to open automatically the signaling circuit, whenever the lid of the cabinet is opened for the purpose of afiording access to the spools upon which the perforated tape is mounted. In the use of the apparatus the purchaser will be warned that the removal of the cover plate 40 will result in loss of guarantee as to the performance of the apparatus, hence in the normal use of the device the signaling circuit will alwaysbe open whenever the lid is raised.

"I claim:

1..In an automatic telegraph transmitter of the character described having contacts controlled by a movable perforated tape, the combination of .a housing adapted to enclose the operating parts, said housing having a movable lid portion, contact making members including a brush member adapted to have its free end pass through the perforation of the tape to make contact with another of thecontact-making members, said brush member being in inoperative position when the lid is open, and a member carried by thelidimpelling said brush member to operative position when the lid is closed.

2. In an automatic telegraph transmitter of the character described having contacts controlled by va movable perforated tape, the combination of a housing adapted to enclose the operating parts, said housing having a movable lid portion, a contact member having a portion positioned adjacent the tape when the lid is closed, a brush member adapted to have its free end pass through the perforations in the tape to contact the aforesaid contact member, said brush member being in inoperative position when the lid is open, and a member carried by the lid for impelling said brush member to operative position when the lid is closed.

3. In an automatic telegraph transmitter of the character described having contacts controlled by a movable perforated tape, the combination of a housing adapted to enclose the operating parts and having a protruding portion at the front over which the tape visibly passes, said housing also having a movable lid portion, a contact memberhaving a portion positioned adjacent the tape when the lid is closed, a brush member adapted to have its free end pass through the perforations .in the tape to contact the aforesaid contact member, and means for retracting the brushmember when the lid is opened.

4. In an automatic telegraph transmitter of the character described having contacts controlled by a movable perforated tape, the combination-of a housing adapted to enclose the operating parts, said housing having a movable lid portion, a contact member having a portion positioned adjacent the tape when the lid is closed, a brush member adapted to have its free end pass through the perforations in the tape to contact the aforesaid contact member, a spring having a portion bearing against the brush member, and means adapted when the lid is closed to stress said spring and cause the same to impel the free end of the brush to operative position.

5. In an automatic telegraph transmitter of the character described having contacts controlled by a movable perforated tape, the combination of a housing adapted to enclose the operating parts, said housing having a movable lid portion, a contact member having a portion positioned adjacent the tape when the lid is closed, a brush member adapted to have its free end pass through the perforations in the tape to contact the aforesaid contact member, a spring having a portion bearing against the brush member, and means adapted when the lid is closed to stress said spring and cause the same to impel the free end of the brush to operative position.

6. In an automatic telegraph transmitter of the character described having contacts controlled by a movable perforated tape, the combination of a housing adapted to enclose the operating parts and having a protruding portion at the front over which the tape visibly passes, said housing having a movable lid portion, a contact member carried by said lid and having a portion positioned adjacent the tape when the lid is closed, a brush member adapted to have its free end pass through the perforations in the tape to contact the aforesaid contact member, a spring having a portion bearing against the brush member, and means adapted when the lid is closed to stress said spring and cause the same to impel the free end of the brush to operative position.

'7. In an automatic telegraph transmitter of the character described having contacts controlled by a movable perforated tape, the combination of a housing adapted to enclose the operating parts and having a protruding portion at the front over which the tape visibly passes, said housing having a movable lid portion, a contact member carried by said lid and having a portion positioned adjacent the tape when the lid is closed, a brush member adapted to have its free end pass through the perforations in the tape to contact the aforesaid contact member, a spring having an insulated portion bearing against the brush member, and a member carried by the lid and adapted when the lid is closed to stress said spring and cause the same to impel the free end of the brush to operative position.

8. In an automatic telegraph transmitter of the character described having contacts controlled by a movable perforated tape, the combination of a housing adapted to enclose the opcrating parts and having a protruding portion at the front over which the tape visibly passes, said housing having a movable lid portion, a contact member carried by said lid and having a portion positioned adjacent the tape when the lid is closed, a brush member adapted to have its free end pass through the perforations in the tape to contact the aforesaid contact member, a spring having an insulated portion bearing against the brush member, and a tapered pin carried by the lid and adapted when the lid is closed to bear against said spring and cause the same to be stressed to impel the free end of the brush to operative position.

9. In an automatic telegraph transmitter of the character described having contacts controlled by a movable perforated tape, the combination of a housing adapted to enclose the operating parts and having a protruding portion at the front over which the tape visibly passes, said housing having a movable lid portion, a contact member carried by said lid and having a portion positioned adjacent the tape when the lid is closed, a brush member adapted to have its free end pass through the perforations in the tape to contact the aforesaid contact member, a spring having an insulated portion bearing against the brush member, a tapered pin carried by the lid and adapted when the lid is closed to bear against said spring and cause the same to be stressed to impel the free end of the brush to operative position, and a cover plate adapted to enclose certain of said contact members.

10. In an automatic telegraph transmitter of the character described having contacts controlled by a movable perforated tape, the combination of a housing adapted to enclose the operating parts and having a protruding portion at the front over which the tape visibly passes, said housing having a movable lid portion, a contact member carried by said lid and having a portion positioned adjacent the tape when the lid is closed, a brush member adapted to have its free end pass through the perforations in the tape to contact the aforesaid contact member, a spring having an insulated portion hearing against the brush member, a tapered pin carried by the lid and adapted when the lid is closed to bear against the said spring and cause the same to be stressed to impel the free end of the brush to operative position, and a cover plate adapted to enclose certain of said contact members, said cover plate having an aperture for the passage therethrough of the spring engaging pin.

LAURANCE E. GARDINER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,680,732 De Tar Aug. 14, 1928 2,003,852 Beattie June 4, 1935 

